This nicely plotted mystery does not give away the murderer’s identity until the very end – always a plus in my estimation. In the meantime, there are plenty of complications to the story to hold a reader’s interest – multiple romantic involvements for Tom, other nefarious crimes being discovered, and comic misunderstandings between Tom and Bacon and the rest of his crew.

I enjoyed learning a little about the controversial non-conformist Puritans in this delightful mystery. The author, who has three books in the series, recommends reading the books in order since the characters’ relationships build with each novel. However, I had no trouble picking up what was happening among them, in this second of the three. I would recommendDeath by Disputation to any fan of historical mysteries, or to anyone interested in what went on in Elizabethan England outside the royal court.